EP1036426A1 - Connecteur electrique - Google Patents

Connecteur electrique

Info

Publication number
EP1036426A1
EP1036426A1 EP98962845A EP98962845A EP1036426A1 EP 1036426 A1 EP1036426 A1 EP 1036426A1 EP 98962845 A EP98962845 A EP 98962845A EP 98962845 A EP98962845 A EP 98962845A EP 1036426 A1 EP1036426 A1 EP 1036426A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
conductor
receiving
connector
receiving openings
openings
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP98962845A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1036426A4 (fr
Inventor
Roy K. Warner
Paul A. Unit 601 CORNELL
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Pan Electric Corp
Original Assignee
Pan Electric Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Pan Electric Corp filed Critical Pan Electric Corp
Publication of EP1036426A1 publication Critical patent/EP1036426A1/fr
Publication of EP1036426A4 publication Critical patent/EP1036426A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R4/00—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
    • H01R4/28—Clamped connections, spring connections
    • H01R4/38—Clamped connections, spring connections utilising a clamping member acted on by screw or nut
    • H01R4/40—Pivotable clamping member
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R4/00—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
    • H01R4/58—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation characterised by the form or material of the contacting members
    • H01R4/64—Connections between or with conductive parts having primarily a non-electric function, e.g. frame, casing, rail

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an improved electrical connector of the type having inner and outer connector parts formed from respective conductive straps, wherein the inner connector part fits within the outer connector part and rotates between a clamped and an unclampled position.
  • the inner and outer connector parts include cable receiving bores that are aligned when the parts are in an undamped position, and are misaligned when the parts are in a clamped position. This misalignment deforms the clamped cable to establish electrical and mechanical contact between the cable and the connector.
  • the present invention is directed to improvements to electrical connectors that are intended to provide an improved spring action to maintain a force against the cable and therefore electrical contact over an extended time period. Summary
  • the electrical connector described below includes inner and outer connector parts having connector receiving portions that are wrapped around the rotational axis of the connector in opposite directions. This arrangement insures that the clamping forces generated when the connector is closed tend to move both the inner and the outer conductor receiving portions in either a diameter-increasing or diameter- decreasing direction, depending upon the direction of closing. Because both the inner and the outer connector parts change diameter in the same sense, there is a reduced tendency for the inner connector part to bind or stick in the outer connector part. This allows clamping forces to be transmitted efficiently to the clamped conductor. Spring forces developed in the connector parts are thus available to maintain an excellent electrical connection between the connector parts and the clamped conductor.
  • the conductor receiving openings for the smaller conductor are generally circular while the conductor receiving openings for the larger conductor are oval in shape, elongated along the closing direction.
  • This arrangement provides a greyer amount of play between the conductor receiving portions and the larger conductor than between the conductor receiving portions and the smaller conductor. For this reason, as the inner connector part is rotated to the clamped position, the smaller conductor is distorted or bent to a greater extent than is the larger conductor.
  • the clamping force on the larger conductor can be adjusted as appropriate, while maintaining the desired clamping force on the smaller conductor.
  • Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1-1 of Figure 2 of an electrical conductor that incorporates a presently preferred embodiment of this invention.
  • Figure 2 is a side-view of the connector of Figure 1.
  • Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1.
  • Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 1.
  • Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to that of Figure 1 , showing the connector in an undamped position.
  • Figures 6, 7 and 8 are side views of inner, an inner connector part, an outer connector part, and an assembled connector of a second preferred embodiment.
  • Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an electrical connector 10 that includes a first or outer connector part 12 and a second or inner connector part 14.
  • the inner connector part 14 is rotatable about an axis A between an undamped position, as shown in Figure 5, and a clamped position, as shown in Figure 1 , by action of a bolt 16 that passes through the inner connector part 14 and is threaded in the outer connector part 12.
  • the connector parts 12, 14 in this embodiment are formed of a conductive strap of a suitable conductive metal such as an aluminum alloy. In this embodiment each of the conductive straps is substantially uniform in thickness, though this is not required for all embodiments.
  • the conductive straps may be bent from strips of a suitable metal, or alternately they may be extruded in the shape shown.
  • the outer connector portion 12 includes a tail 18 that threadedly receives the bolt 16 and a conductor receiving portion 20 that is generally C-shaped. As shown in Figure 1, the conductor receiving portion 20 is wrapped in a clockwise direction about the axis A as you proceed from the tail 18 to the free end 22.
  • the inner connector part 14 includes a tail 24 that freely receives the bolt 16 and a conductor receiving portion 26 that is received within the outer conductor receiving portion 20. As shown in Figure 1 , the inner conductor receiving portion 26 is wrapped in a counter-clockwise direction about the axis A as you proceed from the tail 24 to the free end 28. Thus, the inner and outer conductor receiving portions 26, 20 are wrapped in opposite directions about the axis A.
  • the conductor receiving portions 20, 26 define first and second sets of conductor receiving openings 30, 32, respectively.
  • the first conductor receiving openings 30 are adapted for use with a larger conductor C1
  • the second conductor receiving opening 32 are adapted for use with a smaller conductor C2.
  • the first, or larger conductor receiving openings 30 are larger parallel to the axis A than are the second, smaller conductor receiving openings 32.
  • the larger conductor receiving openings 30 of the outer conductor receiving portion 20 are oval in shape, while the smaller conductor receiving openings 32 are circular in shape.
  • the larger conductor receiving openings 30 are more elongated along a direction perpendicular to the axis A than are the smaller conductor receiving openings 32.
  • recesses 34 are preferably formed in one or both of the conductor receiving portions 26, 30 between the conductor receiving portions 26, 30 adjacent to the smaller conductor receiving openings 32. If desired, similar recesses (not shown) can be provided adjacent to the larger conductor receiving openings 30, though in many cases this will not be required.
  • the larger conductor receiving openings 30 are formed as slots that extend to one side of the connector 10, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. This construction allows the larger conductor C1 to be inserted into the openings 30 either axially, along the length of the conductor C1 , or laterally, from the right side of the connector 10 as shown in Figure 2.
  • the smaller conductor receiving openings 32 may also be formed as slots that extend to one side of the connector 10.
  • the connector 10 is positioned in an undamped position by rotating the inner connector part 14 with respect to the outer connector part 12 about the axis A to the position shown in Figure 5. In this position, the first conductor receiving openings 30 are aligned with one another, as are the second conductor receiving openings. The larger conductor C1 can then be placed in the conductor receiving openings 30 and the smaller conductor C2 can be placed in the conductor receiving openings 32 without deforming either of the conductors C1 , C2.
  • the electrical connector 10 provides an effective spring action in use that maintains a low resistance connection with the conductors C1 , C2 in spite of thermal expansion and contraction.
  • This arrangement is quite different from that of the Lawlor patents described above, in which the inner and outer conductor receiving portions are wrapped in the same direction aDout the rotational axis.
  • the inner conductor receiving portion tends to be unwrapped or expanded in diameter while the outer conductor receiving portion tends to be more tightly wrapped or reduced in diameter as the connector is closed. This arrangement has a greater tendency to create binding or sticking forces between the inner and outer connector parts.
  • the connector of this invention can be adapted for use with a single conductor, two conductors, or more than two conductors.
  • the two conductor embodiment described above is particularly useful as a grounding rod connector, because the larger conductor C1 can be a grounding rod and the smaller conductor C2 can be a grounding wire.
  • Figures 6, 7 and 8 show an inner connector part 54
  • Figure 7 shows an outer connector part 52
  • Figure 8 shows an electroconnector 50 that is assembled from the inner and outer connector parts 54, 52.
  • the electrical connector 50 is quite similar to the electrical connector 10 described above and operates in substantially the same way.
  • the connector 50 is formed as a terminal and is adapted to connect to only a single conductor.
  • a second difference relates to chamfers 56 which are formed on the lead-in surfaces of the bores in the outer and inner connector parts 52, 54. These chamfers facilitate insertion of a fine stranded cable into the electroconnector 50 by providing funnel-shaped lead-in surfaces.
  • the outer connector part 52 includes a cable stop 58 that is pressed out of the body of the outer connector part 52. As shown in Figure 8, the cable stop 58 limits the maximum insertion depth of the cable being terminated.
  • the cable receiving openings in the inner and outer connector parts 54, 52 can be formed by a piercing operation that produces as a by-product the funnel-shaped cable guiding surface similar to that provided by the chamfers discussed above.
  • Some embodiments of this invention provide openings adapted for two conductors of the same size.
  • the conductor-receiving openings 30, 32 may be arranged parallel to one another such that the conductors C1 , C2 are generally parallel when the connector is closed. This arrangement may be preferred when the layer conductor C1 is a ground rod.
  • the bolt 16 can be elongated to affix the connector to a mounting surface. When this is done the bolt preferably passes freely through both of the tails.
  • the inner connector part 14 can be made symmetrical with respect to a plane of symmetry, and it can include a skewed bore. In this way, the advantages of a reversible inner connector element can be obtained, as described for example in U.S. Patent 4,479,694, assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
  • each set of conductor receiving openings includes only two openings, one in each of the inner and outer conductor receiving portions.
  • a connector with reversely wound conductor receiving portions can be used with circular rather than oval openings.
  • oval openings can be used in a connector having a solid rather than a wrapped conductor receiving portion for the inner connector element.

Landscapes

  • Connections By Means Of Piercing Elements, Nuts, Or Screws (AREA)
  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un connecteur électrique (10) comprenant des bandes conductrices interne et externe (14, 12) ayant chacune une queue (18, 24) et une partie pouvant recevoir des conducteurs (26, 20). Chacune de ces parties (26, 20) est enroulée dans le sens inverse de l'axe de rotation (A) du connecteur, de manière à réduire toute tendance de l'élément interne à se bloquer dans l'élément externe ou à adhérer à lui. Le connecteur comporte des passages ou des ouvertures pour la réception des conducteurs (30, 32), permettant de loger à la fois un conducteur de taille relativement importante du type tige de terre (C1) et un conducteur de taille relativement modeste du type fil de terre (C2). Les ouvertures considérées sont ovales pour une tige de terre et circulaires pour un fil de terre, si bien que la distorsion exercée par le connecteur sur le fil de terre est plus grande que celle exercée sur la tige de terre à la fermeture du connecteur.
EP98962845A 1997-12-05 1998-11-25 Connecteur electrique Withdrawn EP1036426A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US985883 1997-12-05
US08/985,883 US5919065A (en) 1997-12-05 1997-12-05 Electrical connector
PCT/US1998/025280 WO1999030386A1 (fr) 1997-12-05 1998-11-25 Connecteur electrique

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1036426A1 true EP1036426A1 (fr) 2000-09-20
EP1036426A4 EP1036426A4 (fr) 2001-03-07

Family

ID=25531883

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98962845A Withdrawn EP1036426A4 (fr) 1997-12-05 1998-11-25 Connecteur electrique

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (2) US5919065A (fr)
EP (1) EP1036426A4 (fr)
JP (1) JP2001526452A (fr)
CN (1) CN1280716A (fr)
AU (1) AU1799799A (fr)
BR (1) BR9814258A (fr)
CA (1) CA2309965A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO1999030386A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6325677B1 (en) * 2000-03-31 2001-12-04 Pan Electric Corporation Cable clamping device
DE20101067U1 (de) * 2001-01-19 2001-05-10 Karin Daume Maschinenteile GmbH & Co. KG, 30938 Burgwedel Einrichtung zum elektrisch leitenden Kontaktieren eines abisolierten Außenleiters eines Koaxialkabels
AT5503U1 (de) * 2001-03-08 2002-07-25 Lem Norma Gmbh Einrichtung zur unterstützung der messung des erdwiderstandes
DE20113219U1 (de) * 2001-08-16 2003-01-02 Daume, Karin, 30938 Burgwedel Einrichtung zum elektrisch leitenden Kontaktieren eines abschnittsweise abisolierten Außenleiters eines Koaxialkabels
US6772868B2 (en) 2001-09-13 2004-08-10 Pan Electric Corporation Railroad rail-connector assembly
US7182611B2 (en) * 2004-02-26 2007-02-27 Borden Aaron M Dual-sectioned grounding bushing assembly
US7335050B2 (en) * 2005-07-01 2008-02-26 Blazing Products, Inc. Electrical connector for use in connecting wires
USD575230S1 (en) 2006-08-29 2008-08-19 Blazing Products, Inc. Electrical connector
USD575738S1 (en) 2006-08-29 2008-08-26 Blazing Products, Inc. Electrical connector
EP2047813A1 (fr) * 2007-10-11 2009-04-15 Abbott Spine Système de fixation d'os et procédé d'utilisation
US7806718B2 (en) * 2006-10-23 2010-10-05 Blazing Products Inc. Electrical connectors and methods of connecting
EP2384788B1 (fr) 2010-05-04 2012-09-26 Sorin CRM SAS Système sans vis de connexion rapide d'un connecteur de sonde à un générateur de dispositif médical implantable
US8425264B2 (en) * 2010-09-16 2013-04-23 Pan Electric Corporation Electrical connector
US9035184B2 (en) 2011-11-03 2015-05-19 Blazing Products, Inc. Electrical connectors
US8864502B2 (en) 2012-05-04 2014-10-21 Thomas & Betts International, Inc. Mechanical grounding connector
US9385442B2 (en) 2014-05-20 2016-07-05 Cooper Technologies Company Integral grounding hub
US9943685B2 (en) 2015-04-23 2018-04-17 Cyberonics, Inc. Lead engagement devices and methods for electrical stimulation and/or monitoring systems

Family Cites Families (42)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US318182A (en) * 1885-05-19 Clothes-line holder
US879940A (en) * 1905-03-23 1908-02-25 William H Blood Jr Ground-connection clamp.
AT77339B (de) * 1916-11-20 1919-07-25 Franz Belt Zweibackige Exzenterseilzwinge.
GB147455A (en) * 1918-05-11 1921-08-11 Aeg Connecting clamp for electric wires
US1679677A (en) * 1925-11-21 1928-08-07 N Slater Company Ltd Ground-wire connecter
GB529520A (en) * 1939-05-22 1940-11-22 Hills Patent Glazing Company L Improvements in, or relating to, clamps
US2370748A (en) * 1943-04-12 1945-03-06 Econo Safety Devices Inc Hinged clamp
US2452406A (en) * 1947-12-02 1948-10-26 Volkery Bernhard Two-part, screw-connected clamp
US2700807A (en) * 1952-01-12 1955-02-01 Mcgraw Electric Co Guy wire clamp
US2915275A (en) * 1956-09-14 1959-12-01 Nat Gypsum Co Ceiling suspension system
US3019409A (en) * 1959-04-15 1962-01-30 United Carr Fastener Corp Grounding clip
US3169818A (en) * 1963-10-10 1965-02-16 Mildred M Tracy Electrical conductor clamp
US3138422A (en) * 1963-10-28 1964-06-23 Cornell Paul A Electrical connector with wiregripping means
US3351889A (en) * 1964-08-03 1967-11-07 Cornell Paul A Electrical connector with wire-gripping means and insulation piercing contact jaw
CH465689A (fr) * 1966-07-29 1968-11-30 E Lawlor Robert Serre-fils électrique
US3437979A (en) * 1966-11-15 1969-04-08 Electro Clamp Corp Electrical connector with wire-gripping means
US3537150A (en) * 1968-06-06 1970-11-03 John Ernest Emberson Clamp
US3801952A (en) * 1972-10-30 1974-04-02 Electro Clamp Corp Cable clamp with locking means
US3879104A (en) * 1973-04-26 1975-04-22 Gamm Tech Inc Lockable solderless electrical connector
US3883211A (en) * 1973-04-26 1975-05-13 Electro Clamp Corp Non-shearing solderless electrical connector
US3831134A (en) * 1973-06-15 1974-08-20 Electro Clamp Corp Cable clamp with non-shearing jaws
US3861771A (en) * 1973-11-23 1975-01-21 Electro Clamp Corp Cable connector with five point grip and non-twist, non-pullout function and with ratchet latch
US3892455A (en) * 1974-03-26 1975-07-01 Thomas & Betts Corp Ground clamp connector
US3980381A (en) * 1974-09-26 1976-09-14 Electro-Clamp Corporation Cable connector
US3973821A (en) * 1974-11-29 1976-08-10 Ideal Industries, Inc. Connector
US3980038A (en) * 1975-03-31 1976-09-14 Omnithruster, Inc. Hose and mooring line positioning system
US3985411A (en) * 1975-06-30 1976-10-12 I-T-E Imperial Corporation Hinged ground clamp
US4001921A (en) * 1975-09-04 1977-01-11 Paul A. Cornell Cable clamp with size adjustment
CA1056133A (fr) * 1975-10-06 1979-06-12 Clifford G. Kelly Dispositif et systeme de serrage pour tissu
CA1073639A (fr) * 1975-11-07 1980-03-18 Paul A. Cornell Serre-cable avec dispositif de reglage
US3990129A (en) * 1976-01-16 1976-11-09 Electro-Clamp Corporation Multi-cable connector
US4014078A (en) * 1976-01-16 1977-03-29 Electro-Clamp Corporation Clamping device with adjusting ring
US4128294A (en) * 1977-12-19 1978-12-05 Ideal Industries, Inc. Cable clamps
US4186981A (en) * 1978-08-04 1980-02-05 Eaton Corporation Grounding device
US4357068A (en) * 1980-04-02 1982-11-02 Pan Electric Corporation Cable clamping device
US4479694A (en) * 1980-04-02 1984-10-30 Pan Electric Corporation Cable clamping device
GB8303790D0 (en) * 1983-02-11 1983-03-16 Cornell P A Expansion grip connector
US4475843A (en) * 1983-09-02 1984-10-09 Mcgraw-Edison Company Apparatus for clamping cables
US4526428A (en) * 1984-03-30 1985-07-02 Isaac Sachs Multi-strand cable clamp with positive strand engagement
USD296777S (en) 1985-10-07 1988-07-19 Pan Electric Corporation Cable clamp
US4898551A (en) * 1989-04-11 1990-02-06 Pan Electric Corporation Cable clamp
US5765962A (en) * 1996-02-15 1998-06-16 Pan Electric Corporation Ground rod connector

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US5919065A (en) 1999-07-06
CA2309965A1 (fr) 1999-06-17
US6241563B1 (en) 2001-06-05
WO1999030386A1 (fr) 1999-06-17
EP1036426A4 (fr) 2001-03-07
BR9814258A (pt) 2000-10-03
CN1280716A (zh) 2001-01-17
JP2001526452A (ja) 2001-12-18
AU1799799A (en) 1999-06-28

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6241563B1 (en) Electrical connector
US7786383B2 (en) Electrical wire connector with temporary grip
CA2245945C (fr) Connecteur pour tige de mise a la terre
CA2128908C (fr) Connexion electrique
US6338658B1 (en) Slotted electrical connector
US5059137A (en) Insulation displacement contact for flat cable
US3879981A (en) Fishline connector device
US3996417A (en) Cable core grip, electrical cable and connector assembly, and electrical connector kit
EP0825681B1 (fr) Borne de batterie
US6979236B1 (en) Wedge connector assembly
US3861771A (en) Cable connector with five point grip and non-twist, non-pullout function and with ratchet latch
US5552564A (en) Range enhancement for H-shaped compression connector
CA1049111A (fr) Connecteur electrique a manchon compresseur et noyau deformable
AU2003248431A1 (en) Winding device of winding wheel and wire
US20090075528A1 (en) 90-Degree ferrule and pin terminals
JPH0122713B2 (fr)
US5095178A (en) Electrical connector and method
US3973821A (en) Connector
US4781617A (en) Cable connector arrangement to accommodate multiple cable sizes
US4708418A (en) Electrical connection
US3787795A (en) Solderless terminal assembly
US4128296A (en) Eccentric bore electrical connecting device
GB2247926A (en) Push fit connecter for wires, cables and strands
US5401194A (en) Cable clamp with reduced fastener length
US20030181081A1 (en) Electrical terminal connector

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20000525

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT NL SE

A4 Supplementary search report drawn up and despatched

Effective date: 20010124

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A4

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT NL SE

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 20030502